The Role of Disc Self-Gravity in Circumbinary Planet Systems: I. Disc Structure and Evolution

Abstract

We present the results of 2-dimensional hydrodynamic simulations of self-gravitating circumbinary discs around binaries whose parameters match those of the circumbinary planet-hosting systems Kepler-16, -34 and -35. Previous work has shown that non-self-gravitating discs in these systems form an eccentric precessing inner cavity due to tidal truncation by the binary, and planets which form at large radii migrate until stalling at this cavity. While this scenario appears to provide a natural explanation for the observed orbital locations of the circumbinary planets, previous simulations have failed to match the observed planet orbital parameters. The aim of this work is to examine the role of self-gravity in modifying circumbinary disc structure as a function of disc mass, prior to considering the evolution of embedded circumbinary planets. In agreement with previous work, we find that for disc masses between 1--5 times the minimum mass solar nebula (MMSN), disc self-gravity affects modest changes in the structure and evolution of circumbinary discs. Increasing the disc mass to 10 or 20 MMSN leads to two dramatic changes in disc structure. First, the scale of the inner cavity shrinks substantially, bringing its outer edge closer to the binary. Second, in addition to the eccentric inner cavity, additional precessing eccentric ring-like features develop in the outer regions of the discs. If planet formation starts early in the disc lifetime, these changes will have a significant impact on the formation and evolution of planets and precursor material.

18 pages, 18 figures, 2 tables. Accepted for publication in MNRAS

References in corpus (14)

• Direct Imaging of Multiple Planets Orbiting the Star HR 8799
• The Transiting Circumbinary Planets Kepler-34 and Kepler-35
• On the corotation torque in a radiatively inefficient disk
• Type I planetary migration in a self-gravitating disk
• On the formation and migration of giant planets in circumbinary discs
• Relative velocities among accreting planetesimals in binary systems: the circumbinary case
• On the migration of protoplanets embedded in circumbinary disks
• Building Giant-Planet Cores at a Planet Trap
• On the evolution of multiple low mass planets embedded in a circumbinary disc
• New methods for large dynamical range problems in planetary formation
• Hydrodynamic instability in eccentric astrophysical discs
• Evolution of irradiated Circumbinary Disks
• Self-Destructing Spiral Waves: Global Simulations of a Spiral Wave Instability in Accretion Disks
• Coevolution of Binaries and Gaseous Discs

Cited by in corpus (16)

• Hydrodynamical turbulence in eccentric circumbinary discs and its impact on the in situ formation of circumbinary planets
• The influence of infall on the properties of protoplanetary discs
• Circumbinary discs with radiative cooling and embedded planets
• How cooling influences circumbinary discs
• On the Role of Gas Cooling in the Dynamics of Circumbinary Disks
• Dusty circumbinary discs: inner cavity structures and stopping locations of migrating planets
• Global N-body simulations of circumbinary planet formation around Kepler-16 and -34 analogues I: Exploring the pebble accretion scenario
• Viscous circumbinary protoplanetary discs -- I. Structure of the inner cavity
• A Simplified Model for the Secular Dynamics of Eccentric Discs and Applications to Planet-Disc Interactions
• The scattering outcomes of Kepler circumbinary planets: planet mass ratio
• Dust accretion in binary systems: implications for planets and transition discs
• Simulations of the dynamics of the debris disks in the systems Kepler-16, Kepler-34, and Kepler-35
• Three-dimensional evolution of radiative circumbinary discs: the size and shape of the inner cavity
• A 3D Hydrodynamics Study of Gravitational Instabilities in a Young Circumbinary Disc
• On the cavity size in circumbinary discs
• Planet migration in massive circumbinary discs